The MURALES survey. V. Jet-induced star formation in 3C 277.3 (Coma A)

Date

2021-11-02

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Capetti, A. et al.; The MURALES survey. V. Jet-induced star formation in 3C 277.3 (Coma A); Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2021;

Rights

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©ESO 2021

Subjects

Abstract

We present observations obtained with the VLT/MUSE optical integral field spectrograph of the radio source 3C277.3, located at a redshift of 0.085 and associated with the galaxy Coma A. An emission line region fully enshrouds the double-lobed radio source, which is ~60 kpc x 90 kpc in size. Based on the emission line ratios, we identified five compact knots in which the gas ionization is powered by young stars located as far as ~60 kpc from the host. The emission line filaments surrounding the radio emission are compatible with ionization from fast shocks (with a velocity of 350-500 km/s), but a contribution from star formation occurring at the edges of the radio source is likely. Coma A might be a unique example in the local Universe in which the expanding outflow triggers star formation throughout the whole radio source.